Mr. Bush’s contempt for the Constitution of the United States is one of the reasons I will not vote for his election this fall.

Bob Woodward’s latest book reveals the most recent example of Bush’s constitutional disdain. In July 2002, Bush spent $700 million of funds, which Congress had earmarked for the war in Afghanistan, for preparations for the invasion of Iraq. Bush did this despite his public claims not to have made a decision about Iraq. Mr. Bush diverted these funds without informing Congress, despite legislative requirements to keep Congress informed on how it was spending the money. Mr. Bush diverted the funds, despite the fact that Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution forbids the executive to spend money not explicitly appropriated and authorized by law.

In other words, Mr. Bush lied, cheated and stole. Every press account about Afghanistan published in the last six months details how the under funding of rebuilding efforts by the Unites States has crippled efforts to defeat the Taliban (they’re still there) and to create a legitimate and stable government in the country.

In other words, Mr. Bush’s decision to rob Afghanistan reconstruction funds to pay for the invasion of Iraq, was both a stupid and an unconstitutional decision. The United States has survived unconstitutional presidents, and it has survived incompetent presidents, but I fear it cannot survive both at once. I will vote for Mr. Kerry.

Margaret Imber, Turner

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